Weather: overcast, fairly bright, misty. From 7:10am.
After a drive up to Norfolk, after returning from Wales, I decided on an early start for a location which is recommended for goshawk though I feared I was a touch too late in the year to be in with a chance of seeing them display.
However a good selection of general & woodland birds: Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Blackcap, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren.
As I approached the first forest clearing I heard a distinctive song overhead & looked up to see a Woodlark which landed on a tree stump & continued to sing for some time. The view wasn't the best through a somewhat misty morning but a good life tick nonetheless.
I continued along to a small pond at a path crossroads & waited for a while to see what would show up: Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Siskin on a pine-top, Crow; Roe Deer (1) & Fallow Deer (3), crossed the paths at different ends.
As I waited a cacophany of dog howling & barking reached such a level that I figured there must be some nearby kennels, & that any wildlife in the vicinity would be scared off completely or lying low for some time, so I decided to cut my losses & head off as well. As I walked back the kennels revealed themselves to be a dog-walking servie - a lady struggled with about 6 dogs on leads & it was these that were trying to raise the dead with their howling!
As I left though, in a stand of pines: Chaffinch, Goldcrest, & Treecreeper; & Robin & Blackbird as I drove away.
19 species, 1 new.
Monday, 13 April 2009
Blackthorn Farm Campsite, 12/04/2009
From the cold tent, awake & listening to the dawn chorus. From 5:30am.
Herring Gull, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Crow, Robin, Pheasant, Mallard; Wigeon: sounded like it but probably wasn't!; Dunnock, Oystercatcher, Raven, Wren, Magpie, Linnet, Chiffchaff, Chough, Greylag Goose.
Herring Gull, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Crow, Robin, Pheasant, Mallard; Wigeon: sounded like it but probably wasn't!; Dunnock, Oystercatcher, Raven, Wren, Magpie, Linnet, Chiffchaff, Chough, Greylag Goose.
Holy Island, Anglesey, 11/04/2009
Weather: bright, sunny, warmer.
After South Stack, to make the most of the last day, Rob & I went for a drive around the island & stopped off at a few places that looked promising.
Near Bodior: lightly wooded/flood meadow.
From 4:15pm.
Several singing Willow Warbler all along the path, eventually allowing close-up views; Swallow constantly passing overhead; Grey Heron, Chaffinch, House Martin, Wren, Robin, Chiffchaff (heard from the taller trees nearby); Pheasant, Mallard (pair over), Goldfinch.
Penrhos Country Park: from the carpark/approach road, looking out over Llyn Dinam.
From 5:20pm.
Herring Gull, Mallard, Shelduck, Black-Headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Sand Martin.
Holyhead Fish Harbour.
From 5:30pm.
An Oystercatcher on the grass bank at the entrance to the harbour seemed to lame, it was also certainly reluctant to fly as the car got quite close.
A Cormorant was on a buoy in the harbour as was a smaller, darker cormorant: another Shag but again quite distant.
Luckily enough (again) another Black Guillemot was also next to the buoy & as before it was busily fishing which is where it stayed as we moved on past the Herring Gull colony on the harbour's rocks.
Headland South of South Stack.
From 6pm.
Another stretch of RSPB managed heath headland: Meadow Pipit, Stonechat & Wheatear - about half a dozen & fairly mobile.
"Blackthorn Farm" Headland.
From 6:30pm.
Back to the headland we visited on the first night: Meadow Pipit, Chough (pair); Raven (pair) again in their cliff territory though less aggressive this time; Herring Gull & Lesser Black-Backed Gull; a lone Cormorant & a lone Guillemot also flying out at sea.
As the sun set we watched the chough pair feeding in a nearby field allowing fantastic & prolonged views: a great way to end the weekend trip.
After South Stack, to make the most of the last day, Rob & I went for a drive around the island & stopped off at a few places that looked promising.
Near Bodior: lightly wooded/flood meadow.
From 4:15pm.
Several singing Willow Warbler all along the path, eventually allowing close-up views; Swallow constantly passing overhead; Grey Heron, Chaffinch, House Martin, Wren, Robin, Chiffchaff (heard from the taller trees nearby); Pheasant, Mallard (pair over), Goldfinch.
Penrhos Country Park: from the carpark/approach road, looking out over Llyn Dinam.
From 5:20pm.
Herring Gull, Mallard, Shelduck, Black-Headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Sand Martin.
Holyhead Fish Harbour.
From 5:30pm.
An Oystercatcher on the grass bank at the entrance to the harbour seemed to lame, it was also certainly reluctant to fly as the car got quite close.
A Cormorant was on a buoy in the harbour as was a smaller, darker cormorant: another Shag but again quite distant.
Luckily enough (again) another Black Guillemot was also next to the buoy & as before it was busily fishing which is where it stayed as we moved on past the Herring Gull colony on the harbour's rocks.
Headland South of South Stack.
From 6pm.
Another stretch of RSPB managed heath headland: Meadow Pipit, Stonechat & Wheatear - about half a dozen & fairly mobile.
"Blackthorn Farm" Headland.
From 6:30pm.
Back to the headland we visited on the first night: Meadow Pipit, Chough (pair); Raven (pair) again in their cliff territory though less aggressive this time; Herring Gull & Lesser Black-Backed Gull; a lone Cormorant & a lone Guillemot also flying out at sea.
As the sun set we watched the chough pair feeding in a nearby field allowing fantastic & prolonged views: a great way to end the weekend trip.
RSPB South Stack, Anglesey, 11/04/2009
Weather: bright, sunny & windy. From 11am.
Before going to South Stack from the campsite a Merlin flew over being hotly pursued by a few Sand Martin. Unfortunately though, by the time I'd grabbed my binoculars all of them had gone out of view. Rob agreed that its swept-back wings, size & profile excluded kestrel.
Up to the reserve after yesterday's preview for a full walk around in lovely sunshine, lots of people & very friendly RSPB staff to let us know what to look out for.
From the carpark to the visitors' centre: Linnet, Skylark, Raven (pair), Herring Gull, Buzzard (pair) being mobbed by the ravens; Stonechat, Meadow Pipit; Chough overhead quite often, also very vocal; lots of Swallow also overhead; Wren in nearby bushes.
After the visitors' centre we spent some time looking at the seabirds on the cliffs: Guillemot & a few nesting Fulmar; Razorbill in lesser numbers than guillemots; Rock Pipit (pair) battling it out on the cliff edges; Puffin (~6) picked out on the water after being briefed in the vistors centre - fortunately a fellow birder had picked out a few in with the guillemots so we were quickly able to scope & get good views.
Further along near the lighthouse I picked out Gannet (4) crusing south on the sea; Lesser Black-backed Gull were also on the lighthouse's rocks; I also had brief views of a couple of small black cormorants flying in low from the sea into deep gulleys in the cliffs: Shag, the first in many a year but a pity the views weren't for longer.
Continuing past the lighthouse up into the heathland of Holyhead Mountain a sheltered lake harboured a Mallard & more meadow pipits but little else.
Heading back down the mountain to the visitors' centre on the cliff edge a flock of Sand Martin (8) flew swiftly past.
At the visitors' centre we picked out a couple of Kittiwake on the water as well as more puffins, though they were often disturbed on the water by fishing & sight-seeing boats.
Continuing round the headland south of the visitors' centre: Jackdaw (pair), Crow, Oystercatcher (~4) on the rocks at the bottom of the cliffs; Rock Dove (pair) flew swiftly out over the cliffs back towards the centre.
Back in the carpark: Blackbird & Pied Wagtail (2).
27 species.
Before going to South Stack from the campsite a Merlin flew over being hotly pursued by a few Sand Martin. Unfortunately though, by the time I'd grabbed my binoculars all of them had gone out of view. Rob agreed that its swept-back wings, size & profile excluded kestrel.
Up to the reserve after yesterday's preview for a full walk around in lovely sunshine, lots of people & very friendly RSPB staff to let us know what to look out for.
From the carpark to the visitors' centre: Linnet, Skylark, Raven (pair), Herring Gull, Buzzard (pair) being mobbed by the ravens; Stonechat, Meadow Pipit; Chough overhead quite often, also very vocal; lots of Swallow also overhead; Wren in nearby bushes.
After the visitors' centre we spent some time looking at the seabirds on the cliffs: Guillemot & a few nesting Fulmar; Razorbill in lesser numbers than guillemots; Rock Pipit (pair) battling it out on the cliff edges; Puffin (~6) picked out on the water after being briefed in the vistors centre - fortunately a fellow birder had picked out a few in with the guillemots so we were quickly able to scope & get good views.
Further along near the lighthouse I picked out Gannet (4) crusing south on the sea; Lesser Black-backed Gull were also on the lighthouse's rocks; I also had brief views of a couple of small black cormorants flying in low from the sea into deep gulleys in the cliffs: Shag, the first in many a year but a pity the views weren't for longer.
Continuing past the lighthouse up into the heathland of Holyhead Mountain a sheltered lake harboured a Mallard & more meadow pipits but little else.
Heading back down the mountain to the visitors' centre on the cliff edge a flock of Sand Martin (8) flew swiftly past.
At the visitors' centre we picked out a couple of Kittiwake on the water as well as more puffins, though they were often disturbed on the water by fishing & sight-seeing boats.
Continuing round the headland south of the visitors' centre: Jackdaw (pair), Crow, Oystercatcher (~4) on the rocks at the bottom of the cliffs; Rock Dove (pair) flew swiftly out over the cliffs back towards the centre.
Back in the carpark: Blackbird & Pied Wagtail (2).
27 species.
Blackthorn Farm Headland, Anglesey, 10/04/2009
Weather still bright & cold. From 6pm.
After checking in at the Blackthorn Farm campsite & constructing the tent there was still plenty of daylight left to explore, so we walked down the road, along a lane & onto some RSPB managed heath headland.
On the way: Magpie, Linnet (~12), Meadow Pipit (>20), Crow (pair), Buzzard (pair) being mobbed by Raven (pair); always a great bird to see, this pair were later seen skirmishing with numerous Herring Gull (dozens) on the cliffs apparently staking out a territory for a presumed breeding effort.
Further along: Grey Heron (over) & then the heather came alive with Wheatear (~12), males & females. Maybe this constituted a fall & all were busily foraging & were fairly obliging allowing some excellent views of their beautiful plumage in the vivid sunset.
After moving away from the wheatear & whilst watching the ravens, a lively cawing drew my attention to what I assumed was a jackdaw but as soon as I paid attention I realised it was a fantastic Chough (again, part of a pair), the second of the Anglesey target species! Just like the raven this pair were prominent in the area though not as aggressive & more concerned with the inland fields than the cliffs. On the way back we were able to watch them foraging, almost wader-like with their long red bill in the grass, in one of the fields until the light faded.
Also around the headland or just out at sea: Cormorant (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Greater Black-backed Gull (2), Lapwing (1). Finally, heading back a Hooded Crow (1) perched obligingly on a wire.
After checking in at the Blackthorn Farm campsite & constructing the tent there was still plenty of daylight left to explore, so we walked down the road, along a lane & onto some RSPB managed heath headland.
On the way: Magpie, Linnet (~12), Meadow Pipit (>20), Crow (pair), Buzzard (pair) being mobbed by Raven (pair); always a great bird to see, this pair were later seen skirmishing with numerous Herring Gull (dozens) on the cliffs apparently staking out a territory for a presumed breeding effort.
Further along: Grey Heron (over) & then the heather came alive with Wheatear (~12), males & females. Maybe this constituted a fall & all were busily foraging & were fairly obliging allowing some excellent views of their beautiful plumage in the vivid sunset.
After moving away from the wheatear & whilst watching the ravens, a lively cawing drew my attention to what I assumed was a jackdaw but as soon as I paid attention I realised it was a fantastic Chough (again, part of a pair), the second of the Anglesey target species! Just like the raven this pair were prominent in the area though not as aggressive & more concerned with the inland fields than the cliffs. On the way back we were able to watch them foraging, almost wader-like with their long red bill in the grass, in one of the fields until the light faded.
Also around the headland or just out at sea: Cormorant (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1), Greater Black-backed Gull (2), Lapwing (1). Finally, heading back a Hooded Crow (1) perched obligingly on a wire.
Holyhead & RSPB South Stack, Anglesey, 10/04/2009
Weather: bright, cold.
Easter has come round again & I've been lucky enough to have some holiday time to do the same as last year: as much birding as I can get in! In order to get up & running & to see a couple of species that are a speciality of the region, & which would be life ticks for me, I organised a trip to South Stack in Anglesey, Wales with Rob. The weather was fantastic for the two & a half days that we camped, yes camped, although the sunny days meant cold nights in the tent unfortunately.
After a less than ideal start getting out of London when all trains were suspended out of Euston due to an unfortunate 'fatality' on the line, I arrived in Manchester 3 hours later than expected to meet Rob but we were soon speeding our way to Anglesey.
On arrival & thanks to the bird forum website we immediately hit one hotspot, Holyhead Fish Harbour. From 4pm-ish. On our arrival were abundant Herring Gull (>12), & as we watched a ferry from Ireland steam into the new dock it flushed out the target Black Guillemot (1)! Easy to identify in its unmistakeable plumage, it contentedly fished in the open water before moving into the fish harbour for a quick fish before again moving out onto the sea. Before we moved on we also picked up Cormorant (1), Oystercatcher (2) & a flock of Redshank (12) flew in then out of the dock.
After the immediate success in preparation for a full day the next day we visited the carpark at RSPB South Stack from 5pm. Here we picked up Jackdaw, a lone Hooded Crow, more Herring Gull, several Linnet & Meadow Pipit, & a lone Wheatear flashed its distinctive white rump as it dove over a hedge - my first in many a year.
After that, birding appetite suitably whetted, it was on to the campsite.
Easter has come round again & I've been lucky enough to have some holiday time to do the same as last year: as much birding as I can get in! In order to get up & running & to see a couple of species that are a speciality of the region, & which would be life ticks for me, I organised a trip to South Stack in Anglesey, Wales with Rob. The weather was fantastic for the two & a half days that we camped, yes camped, although the sunny days meant cold nights in the tent unfortunately.
After a less than ideal start getting out of London when all trains were suspended out of Euston due to an unfortunate 'fatality' on the line, I arrived in Manchester 3 hours later than expected to meet Rob but we were soon speeding our way to Anglesey.
On arrival & thanks to the bird forum website we immediately hit one hotspot, Holyhead Fish Harbour. From 4pm-ish. On our arrival were abundant Herring Gull (>12), & as we watched a ferry from Ireland steam into the new dock it flushed out the target Black Guillemot (1)! Easy to identify in its unmistakeable plumage, it contentedly fished in the open water before moving into the fish harbour for a quick fish before again moving out onto the sea. Before we moved on we also picked up Cormorant (1), Oystercatcher (2) & a flock of Redshank (12) flew in then out of the dock.
After the immediate success in preparation for a full day the next day we visited the carpark at RSPB South Stack from 5pm. Here we picked up Jackdaw, a lone Hooded Crow, more Herring Gull, several Linnet & Meadow Pipit, & a lone Wheatear flashed its distinctive white rump as it dove over a hedge - my first in many a year.
After that, birding appetite suitably whetted, it was on to the campsite.
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